Mutter Drei mit Thomas und Dieter

[davidn]

kjorteo happened to mention to me today that Mother 3, released only in Japan, known in America as the sequel to Earthbound and known in Europe as absolutely nothing at all, recently had an unofficial translation patch released. As it falls into my indefinable category of fairly piratable games as it's otherwise completely unobtainable, I'm now playing a game that other people on my Friends list might also be playing for the first time in as long as I can remember.

Even though I played through it relatively recently (after my younger siblings had tried to get me to try it for absolutely ages) I can't remember much about the original Earthbound (that is, the second Mother game in Japan)... all I know is that it was like a sort of twenty hour long nightmare after eating six packs of Skittles before bed, featuring maniacally grinning sprites, a disturbing other dimension called Moonside, Ku Klux Klan members painting a town blue, and the most honestly terrifying formless end boss in the world (reportedly inspired by a traumatic childhood memory that the director suffered because of watching a rape scene in a film).

In the first game I just allowed the game to choose the character names for me, but upon seeing the blonde quiff of the main character I had the insane urge - possibly left over from Albion - to call him and his twin Thomas and Dieter (though it wouldn't accept Thomas for some reason and I had to go with Tomas instead - I hope this doesn't cause confusion with a significant Thomas later on). It also makes you decide on a couple of very irrelevant-seeming choices like your "favourite thing" and "favourite food", so I'll look forward to seeing how it uses those.

I haven't got very far at all yet, but I've already been given perhaps the best don't-go-here-yet message I've yet seen - "There are ants at your feet. Please don't go this way". Given the list of things the first game had above, I'm looking forward to seeing what this one can throw up.

The translation patch is here, and you can find the ROM for yourself.

Comments

[kjorteo]

I've gone with the default ("Don't care") names for every character in the game so far except the dog, whose default (Boney) was simply too ridiculous, so I named him Buddy instead. I did go for my own answers for non-party member questions, like favorite food (default is Omlettes, I went with Pasta) and favorite thing (default is LOVE, in caps and everything, I went with Retro.)

[dr-dos.livejournal.com]

I left everything at default, including Omeletes which is spelled funny.

Well, everything but favorite thing which is required by law to be ROCKIN

[zephyr-pie.livejournal.com]

I've never been too keen on RPG's, but this one has kept me entertained. The humor is unique and witty.

[dr-dos.livejournal.com]

I haven't played as much of it as I should have, but when you get to the point where you can read about all the enemies you fought be sure to check out the description of the Mighty Bitey Snake.

[kjorteo]

I always read the description of every single enemy I come across, and even make it a point to go out of my way to fight enemies (like the Bright Smile in chapter 5, fighting it involves lucking out on a is-there-sometimes-but-not-always spawn when you enter his screen and specifically stopping your vehicle in time and getting out when you see it so you can engage it on foot and not just accidentally autokill it with the vehicle) just so they can all be added to the list. The descriptions are awesome.

[starfishchris.livejournal.com]

I had Earthbound recommended to me a few years ago - actually, it might have been you, though my memory tells me it was a female friend. I thought it was the kind of game that, while utterly bizarre, would have gone down well with Western audiences had it not been so Japanese at the same time.

That's a shame because it deserves much more exposure than it will ever have, even if an English translation was released.

I shall hunt down Mother 3 forthwith!

[(Anonymous)]

David I cannot wait to see what you make of this. I've played it twice, once in Japanese with a printed out translation, and once with the patch. These were two of the best experiences I've ever had with the medium affectionately known as video gaming. The way the thematic elements cross over with the gameplay and plot is something that is seen all too rarely. It's a genuine masterpiece, and a true work of art. Easily up there with Silent Hill 2. The favourite things and favourite food have more of a point then you think, and letting the game name the characters for you is perhaps a good idea, for reasons that will become apparant as you play. ENJOY!

[jeremylinnell.livejournal.com]

That anonymous comment was me by the way. Damn LJ signing me out. But yes fantastic game, a great deal of food for thought in many areas.

I can't stand many RPGs but the rhythem action aspects of the battle system were truly fresh. Emulators seem to have trouble with it though, so turn everything off, all frameskips etc. Using a gamepad seems to help too actually.

[starfishchris.livejournal.com]

OK, now I've started playing it for an hour, I can officially call you a bastard! (It's not my fault I get emotional about things...) I'm still enjoying it though - I'll get over it.

[davidn]

It's pretty tragic so far - I hadn't played through any of the actual storyline when I made the post (as you can tell, seeing as I'd been led to believe the twins were the player characters) but it hasn't got any brighter yet, even though I'm having to fight things like Giant Yam Monsters.

I'd been meaning to ask you, where's that icon from? It's similarly upsetting!

[starfishchris.livejournal.com]

It's from a kids' book called Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Nosy Otter (http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&id=cJQjS2DOyjYC&dq=flatfoot+fox+otter&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=x39vF04huc&sig=94JZxij11DfpfXs6sQDD7l4h6Ko&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result). What's so upsetting about it? Her handbag is full of trout, by the way...

[davidn]

It's the distressed face! No human could twist their mouth into such an agonized expression - apart from Cherie Blair.

And I do like the detail of trout in her handbag. Does it have a miniature refrigeration unit in it?

[roundthewheel.livejournal.com]

If it's anything like Mother or Earthbound, they ask for your favorite food because if you ever go home to heal, your mom will cook you the favorite food you listed.

[davidn]

I remember that! The favourite food seems to be inserted in a variety of different places here, the most unusual of which so far was finding a patch of newly planted Pancakes.